الفهرس 
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Abstract
Acupuncture has been shown to improve respiratory parameters. This study investigated the effects of acupuncture on weaning in patients receiving mechanical ventilation and diagnosed to be difficult weaning.
After obtaining approval by the Hospital Ethics Committee and written informed patient consent with an explanation regarding the purpose, methods, effects, and complications. This study included 60 patients admitted to intensive care unit with difficult weaning who were diagnosed after failure of three spontaneous weaning trial at Suez Canal University Hospital, in a prospective, comparative, clinical trial. Patients were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups: standard care with adjunctive acupuncture (30 patients) Vs standard care only (30 patients). Acupuncture in the form of 20 minutes of bilateral electrical stimulation at four acupoints (LU-1, DU-14 & REN-17) was administered per treatment session. The second group was treated by stepwise reduction of pressure support. Hemodynamics, arterial blood gases and weaning indices were collected on three days. First reading was obtained before start of weaning process in the two study groups, immediately after the end of acupuncture session (20 min) in the acupuncture group and then every 4 hours till the time of next session (24 hours). In the stepwise reduction group, the data was collected in the same manner to make the statistical analysis feasible.
There were statistically significant improvements in tidal volumes and rapid shallow breathing index in the three-day adjunctive acupuncture study arms compared to the standard care arm. Other weaning indices and arterial blood gas readings also improved in acupuncture group.
Also, the number of successful weaned patients was elevated in the acupuncture group. (18 patients in acupuncture group vs. 10 patients in stepwise reduction group)
In the stable ventilated coma patient, adjunctive acupuncture contributes to improvements in tidal volumes and the rapid shallow breathing, the two most critical indices for weaning patients from mechanical ventilation. Acupuncture treatment have beneficial effects on the respiratory status of ICU patients receiving MV and help in weaning from prolonged MV.